Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-08
CONFINEMENT

Returning to the question of solitary con-
fnement, in reply to Director Filcher's
query whether or not General McComb
should not admit something defective in
his system when he must resort to solitary
confinement, the Warden warmly rejoined
that Imprisonment is confinement, Ifthat
man Smidt dies here, it is Gods will, but it
Is my duty to keep him. / do not think
that high wall around the prison would
be less effective than this strong guard-line
OF ours. Let me say right here that the
morale of this very investigation here to-
day has not affected favorably the disci-
pline of this institution. This very day at
o'clock, 1t is rumored, there was to have
been break up the ravine for liberty If
you looked out upon the hilltops to-day
you would have observed that tie regular
guards were reinforced by four mounted
ones. If an attack were planned across
the Hill, as might have happened to-day, it
would have tried severely the effectiveness
OF the howitzer at the guard-houses. Our
guard-line might fail TO check the march of
determined and general insurrectien after
sacrifice of number of lives, where a
fine stone outer wall would eifectually re-
strain them
In referring TO SInidt again, he said :
He laughs at our prison, but he is still
here. We keep him only by our vigilance
and our. weapons. He would kill fellow
criminal, in order TO be tried for capital
crime, knowing that there is not a county
jail IN the state that would hold him three
hours after nightfall. Smidt is the only
prisoner that wears shackles, and there are
only fifteen prisoners in solitary confine-
Dest.h
Mr.. Filcher.-I Is not that large peEsent-
age. General?
Gen. McComb.-I am not dealing in per
centages but with facts.
The, General gave an interesting state
ment of how he conducted the affairs of
his business by sketching out the ensire
routine of the day. He also gave his .ex-
,perience with insane prisoners and those
who; feigned insanity. Those men were
placed IN solitary confinement so that thew
could not harm themselves or any one else
Nothing can be, better for an insane and
dangerous man than solitary confinement.
En- speaking of Winters, an individual
teiGning insanity, he said .' He is a man
that enters house to rob. and kill if neces-
sery. Hewoul6 not hesitate to murder.
ana would. rather than leave house with
oct plunder. l found that Winters had
confessed to the
MURDER OF TIE KAYsrAMLY
at Folsom / am satisfied that be did not
COMMIT that bloody deed. We traced him
up and located him at San Eateo at the
time of fzhat murder. He is willing to be
accused Of it, and would like Is be taken
out of here and tried for it. He FOR long
time sought an interview with re for the
purpose, aS i thought, of getting 81 oppor-
tunity to assault me. ! prepared for him
and allowed him the interview. Ks plead
poverty ans desperation, for his crime
waived all bis rights IN Court, an.l was
sentenced to s5 years and Ii years. That
he was not poor is evidenced from the fact
that he had $500 when he committed the
murder. He showed me his check and
wanted me TO dEaw up his will. / had mis- !
gill drawn up and sent to him afterwards, |
and have not hesrd from 1t since. You |
heard Smidt today talking about killing |
Biueskin as he would about peeling an |
orsEge. Turn those two men ogi, and they /
will kill one another. or a guard or some |
If Smidt dies. who is to blame? |
His .cwn crime, his obstipacy. i have two |
,iheers inspect the prison for me and re- |
port daily three or four times. We are all |
inder tie same roof. 1t is not Ike it |
would be If the Warden's ofhee was half a |
nile distant from the prison. Solitary con-
inement imposes no degradation. Noef- |
icer is allowed TO fog a prisoner. Tie |
nildest of language is generally used, but |
,u cOult OSS<S-Ss3s tbe cuSudSe ufeQ WOULD
lot perhaps, be admissible in q Sabbath
chool-
ANoTHEa TOUGH CITIZEN
The next convict placed upon the stand
0 tell how he was treated, and give his
Jews On penology, was Blueskin," alias
frederick Ge;zler, alias John Smith. He
yas born, hs said, in New York city, but
vas uncertain as 10 his sge. Re is tough
ooking citizen, s.ho perhaps Is S. years Of